Coin controlled metering device



Sept. 27, 1938.

G. H. NIEDERST COIN CONTROLLED METERING DEVICE Sept, 2"?, 1938. G. H. NIEDERS'A 2l3l597 COIN CONTFLOLLAED METERING DEVCE Fil Feb. 3 1 cs-Sheet 2 A n?, 1 A N A #i i 0057VV A if; :ifi

Sept. 27, 1938. G. H. NIEDERS? COIN CO'JTROLLED METERING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 illll Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN CONTROLLED METERING DEVICE nois Application February 3, 1936, Serial No. 62,009

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to coin controlled metering devices, and is. particularly concerned with a metering device which is adapted to be used with refrigerators or other domestic appliances.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved metering device of the class described which is adapted to permit defrosting at any time desired by the operator and which is also adapted to provide for the automatic defrosting of the refrigerator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved coin controlled device of the class described which includes a timing element which is adapted to run continuously, even when the domestic appliance has been shut oit by the coin controlled device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a coin controlled device of the class described in which the mechanism is adapted to ready modification for the purpose of predetermining the period of operation of any device for the deposit of a coin.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a coin controlled device for refrigerators which deirosts automatically every twenty-four hours or which may be defrosted selectively at any time and in which the operator can predetermine the next period of defrosting.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved construction for coin controlled devices in which there is a marked reduction in the number of dies required for manufacture and in the number of gears, and therefore a reduction in the cost of the manufacture of the device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved coin controlled device which is sturdy, eicient, economical and capable of adjustment and modication to take care of a wide variety of different conditions, particularly in the period of time of operation of the controlled device for any coin deposited.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the three sheets of drawings,

Fig. lis a fragmentary view in perspective of a refrigerator equipped with a coin controlled device constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a Wiring diagram of the controlling device;

(Cl. ZOO- 33) Fig. 3 is a sectional view, partially broken away to show the construction of the switch actuating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view, with the casing in section, on the plane of the lines 4 4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the mechanism of the device, with the casing in section;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View, taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 'T is. a sectional View, taken on the plane of the line 'i-l of Fig. 6, showing the positive coin actuating means;

Fig. is a sectional View of the mechanism, taken on the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, Il) indicates in its entirety the electric refrigerator, which is controlled by the coin controlled device II, located on the top of the refrigerator or some other convenient point.

The wiring diagram shown in Fig. 2 shows that the refrigerator I0, which derives its power suppy through the power lines I2 and I3, is controlled by a switch comprising a movable arm I4 and a xed contact i5 actuated by a cam I6.

The timing device or clock motor Il is placed directly across the line I2, I3, and therefore operates continuously. This is preferably a constant speed motor of the self-starting type, but synchronous or non-synchronous clock motors may be used, and where an accurate clock motor is used the clock may be provided with an eX- posed dial so that the coin controlled device serves the purpose of a clock as well as a controlling device.

The constant speed motors which will be used in the more simple embodiments of the invention .are preferably not used as clocks for the reason that while these motors are of sufficiently constant speed'to determine the time interval for operation of the refrigerator, they are not sufficiently accurate to check with modern synchronous clocks, and might therefore be subjected to criticism if used as clocks.

The switch I4, I5 may consist of a push button I8 which controls what is usually known as` a micro-switch, and which comprises a snap switch of the type having a movable spring arm I4 with a preformed depression which causes the arm to snap out of engagement with the fixed contact I5 when the arm is moved a predetermined amount.

A stronger spring I9 (Fig. 2) urges the arm into engagement with the contact I5 when the ing sleeve 63, which slidably and rotatably supports a stub shaft 64 in alignment with the stub shaft 48 when the housing is in proper position. Shaft 64 carries a radially projecting arm B5 which is adapted to clear the projecting rivets or lugs 66 on the dial plate 5B when the shaft 84 is inthe position of Fig. 6. The shaft is held in this position by a compression coil spring 61, which is compressed between the end of the bushing 63 and the hand knob 68 that is iixedly mounted on shaft B4.

When the operator wishes to turn the dial plate 56, he has only to push in on the knob B8 and simultaneously turn the knob, whereupon the arm 65 will engage one of the rivets or lugs 88, and shaft 64 will carry along with it in its rotation the dial plate 56. Any number of lugs 98 may be used, so that the knob 83 may be used to turn the dial plate to any desired position. Thus the dial may be turned until the defrosting indicator is shown at the aperture 59, or it may be turned past the aperture 59 so as to predetermine the time when the next defrosting period will arrive.

The pins 54 of lantern wheel 49 are adapted to engage the camming flange 69 carried by a bell crank lever 70, which is pivotally mounted on a stud 1|. Flange 69 is, of course, disposed at an angle to the direction of movement of pins 54. so that as the lantern wheel rotates in a clockwise direction pins 54 tend to actuate bell crank lever 'I0 in a clockwise direction until the pin passes the camming flange 69. Bell crank i9 carries the flange 69 on a short arm l2, and is provided with a downwardly extending arm T3, which carries a spring pawl 14.

The bell crank arm I3 is urged in a counterclockwise direction by a tension spring 15, which has its opposite end secured to the frame, and the pawl I4 engages a ratchet wheel I8 which is rotatably mounted upon a xed stud TI. Ratchet wheel I6 preferably has a multiplicity of teeth so as to be capable of arrangement with the pins on the lantern wheel to predetermine the length of time for operation of the device. For example, in this embodiment the ratchet wheel "IS has ten teeth. It is engaged by a spring pawl 'I8 which permits the rotation of the ratchet wheel 16 in a clockwise direction., but which resists counter-clockwise rotation.

'I'he ratchet wheel 'I6 has certain of its teeth provided with laterally extending anges I9 that are adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet Wheel 8|. Ratchet wheel 8| has its teeth arranged so that abrupt radial shoulders on the teeth 80 are engaged by the anges 19, and when the ratchet Wheel 'I8 is rotated a suicient number of steps, one of the flanges 'I9 engages a tooth 80 and rotates the ratchet wheel 8| one step.

Ratchet wheel 8| is provided with a hub 82 about which is wound a coil spring 83, one end being secured to the frame at 84, and the other end of the coil spring being secured to hub 82. Coil spring 83 urges ratchet wheel 8| in a clockwise direction, but spring I5 is strong enough so that lever 'I3 and ratchet wheel I8 are adapted to rotate the ratchet wheel 8| against the tension of spring 83.

Ratchet wheel 8| also bears a dial plate or may be made in the form of a metal dial, with `the numbers etched directly upon the metal, and

the numbers I to 8, which appear in Fig. 5, are exemplary of figures which may be used to indicate the number of coins deposited in the devvice.

The housing 20 is provided with another aperture 85 disposed in. its front wall opposite the numeral which appears uppermost on the dial plate 86 for the purpose of permitting the operator to see at any time what number of coins has been. deposited and has not yet been used up.

The escapement pawl takes up space for several teeth, and several teeth are cut out at 8l.

in the present embodiment the ratchet wheel 8| has a plurality of teeth removed at the space 8l and is provided with thirty teeth, which permits the deposit and registration of twenty coins. After these twenty coins have been used up and the dial plate 8S has been rotated to a corresponding extent, the tooth cut-out portion 8'I is in such position that it registers with the flanges i9 on ratchet wheel 16, and no matter how often the ratchet wheel 'I6 is then actuated it can have no effect on rotation of ratchet wheel 8| because oi the absence of the teeth at the point 8'I. Thus the constant speed timing motor may operate continuously, and it may actuate the lantern wheel lever 'lll and ratchet wheel I6, but the removal of teeth at Sl prevents ratchet wheel 8i from interfering with the operation of the clock motor when no coins are registered on the coin registering dial 86.

The dial 86 is also provided with a camming harige 88 which is located at the Zero position of the dial and extends peripherally a suiicient distance so that it is adapted to engage the switch lever 58 when the dial is at the zero position.

The switch lever 58 is disposed between the two dials 58 and 86 in such position as to be actuated by the two camming flanges 51 and 88. It comprises a laterally extending portion 89 which is disposed substantially parallel to the plane of these dials, but which has a bent camming portion 98 that projects out in front of the plane of the dials except when it is moved back by either of the camming members 51 or 88.

Switch lever 58 extends backward from the portion 89 and is pivotally mounted at 9| on a pair of laterally projecting ears carried by thel frame. It has a laterally projecting portion which is adapted to engage the push button of the microswitch.

When the parts are in the position of Fig. 3, the microswitch is closed, but when either of the camming flanges 5l or 88 rests in front of the bend 98, the portion 92 of switch lever 58 moves clockwise in Fig. 3, to actuate the push button I8 and open the microswitch I4, I5. A releasing pawl 43 is pivotally mounted on the frame at 93 adjacent the ratchet wheel 8|. It is provided with a pair of teeth 94, 95, one of which is always in engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel 8|.

Pawl i3 is urged in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring 98, tending to maintain the tooth 94 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 8|. The lever 38, which is actuated by a coin 36, has a laterally projecting portion 9`| with a camming surface 98 for engaging the end oi escapement pawl 43. When lever 38 is urged in a clockwise direction (Fig. 6) by the passage of coin 36, its camming portion 98 slides against the end of escapement pawl 43 and rotates this pawl in a clockwise direction. This causes tooth 85 to enter the space between two of the teeth on the ratchet wheel 8|, and as the tooth 94 comes out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 8| the ratchet wheel is held by tooth 95. When the coin has passed and lever 38 again moves,

counter-pawl 43 again moves upward and tooth 94 engages the ratchet wheel 8i. Thus the passage of the coin causes the escapement pawl 43 to permit the ratchet wheel 8| to rotate one step in a clockwise direction. This brings the numerals on the dial 86 into registry with the aperture 85, a suitable numeral indicating how many steps the ratchet wheel 8l has moved in its registry of the coins.

The ratchet wheel 8I and dial 86 are thus moved step by step in a clockwise direction, when coins are deposited, and as the coins are used up this ratchet wheel is forced back in the opposite direction.

The operation of the coin controlled device is as follows:

When the power lines I2, I3 are connected to a suitable source of power, such as the alternating current lighting circuit, the constant speed clock motor I'l will operate continuously and rotate continuously the lantern wheel 49 and dial 58. When the dial 58 has its camming iiange 'I moved into position to engage the switch lever 58, the switch push button I8 will be actuated to open the switch to effect defrosting.

The length of this defrosting period is covered by the arcuate length of the flange 5'I, and when the. flange 5l has passed the hump 99 the switch lever 58 will again permit switch I4, I5 to close, the closing being eiected by the switch spring I 9.

At any time the operator may push inward on the knob 68 and turn the knob to cause lever 85 to rotate the dial 58 for the purpose of shortening the defrosting period or setting the defrosting dial at any desired point. The defrosting is ordinarily accomplished every twenty-four hours, two hours being used in the defrosting.

The normal position of the dial plate 86 when there are no coins deposited is with its camming flange 88 in the uppermost position, engaging the switch lever 58 and opening the switch. At this position of the mechanism the spring 83 is under a tension and tends to rotate the dial 88 in a clockwise direction. When a coin is deposited in the coin chute 34 it stops at the shoulder 4I, engaging the end 3l of the lever 38. The operator is then required to push the actuating device 35 downward, which causes the coin 36 to pass the shoulder 4I and actuates lever 38 to cause the pawl 43 to permit escapement of cne tooth on the ratchet wheel 8 and permit the ratchet wheel and dial 88 to register one coin by moving one step in a clockwise direction. For every coin deposited the ratchet wheel 8| moves one step in a clockwise direction, and for every coin used up or period of refrigeration which has elapsed, the ratchet wheel 8| is stepped backward in a counter-clockwise direction.

This backward stepping of the coin registering ratchet wheel 8l is accomplished by the action of the lantern wheel I9 on lever 13. When one of the pins on the lantern wheel 49 engages the camming surface 8S en bellcrank 'IIL this lever is rotated clockwise against its spring 'I5 to take a new position with respect to the ratchet wheel 'I6 and to engage another tooth of that ratchet wheel. When the pin passes the camming surface 89, then the bellcrank 'I8 is free to be moved back to the position of Fig. 5 by its spring 15 and the pawl 'I4 rotates the ratchet wheel 'I8 one step in a clockwise direction. When there have been coins deposited to be used up and the coin registry wheel 86 is in position to register any of these coins, then the ratchet wheel 'I6 is adapted to rotate ratchet wheel 8| one step for each flange 'I9 on ratchet wheel 78. Of course, if the coins have all been used up, then the space 8'I of the ratchet wheel 8l is adjacent the ratchet wheel 'I6 and the tooth flanges 'I9 cannot rotate ratchet wheel 8|, because there are no teeth there on the ratchet wheel 8I to be engaged by the flanges 19.

The present device is adapted to be adjusted to control the operation of a refrigerator or other -device at rates of from ten cents per day to $6 a day when twenty-four holes are used in the lantern wheel for pins and ten teeth are used on the ratchet wheel 16, and the coin used is a twenty-ve cent coin. For example, the lantern wheel 49 rotates once in twenty-four hours. Assuming that a twenty-iive cent coin is used andy two pins are used upon the lantern wheel and every fifth tooth on the drive ratchet 'I6 is flanged, it can readily be shown that the cost of operation of the refrigerator would then be at the rate of ten cents per day.

The lantern wheel would rotate once every twenty-four hours and would actuate bellcrank 'I9 once every twelve hours. It would take ve actuations of the drive ratchet 16, however, to produce one step of movement of the coin registering ratchet EI because only every iifth tooth of the drive ratchet 'I6 is fianged. Therefore, it would take five times twelve hours, or sixty hours of operation of the lantern wheel before the coin registry ratchet is stepped back one step or before one coin is used up.

It should be understood that any number of teeth may be used in the various ratchets, and I prefer to use a thirty tooth ratchet wheel for the coin registry ratchet, which leaves approximately twenty teeth for the purpose of operation and enables the device to register twenty coins.

It will thus be observed that by using only one type of gear, such as the lantern wheel, I am enabled to adjust my device for various rates of cost of operation. This makes the device capable of very economical manufacture because it is not necessary to keep so many types of gears in stock to meet the needs of the various manufacturers who will use these devices upon. their refrigerators and other appliances. All that it is necessary to do is to regulate the number of pins which are placed in the lantern wheel and the number of flanges on the drive ratchet, and Various different results can be accomplished, such as exemplifiedy in the table above. Of course, different rates of cost per day and diierent periods of time may be used by using different numbers of teeth on the ratchets and gears, and I do not wish to be limited to the numerical relations shown because these gears and ratchet wheels are merely exemplary of one form of the invention.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from. the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of al1 changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination, an electrically actuated power device, a supply circuit therefor and a switch in said circuit, mechanism for controlling said switch, comprising a rotatable ratchet wheel, an escapement pawl for controlling the movement of said ratchet wheel in one direction, a spring for urging said wheel in said direction, a

timing device, a timing wheel having a plurality of pins actuated by said timing device, a second ratchet Wheel rotatable oppositely to said rst ratchet wheel under the inuence of said spring, and a pawl adapted to be actuated by said pins for stepping said ratchet wheel in said opposite direction, said switch means being controlled by said iirst ratchet wheel, and said pawl acting upon said second ratchet wheel, the latter having lugs for engaging the teeth of saidrst mentioned ratchet Wheel.

2. In combination, an electrically actuated power device, a supply circuit therefor and a switch in said circuit, mechanism for controlling said switch, comprising a rotatable ratchet wheel, an escapement pawl for controlling the movement of said ratchet Wheel in one direction, a spring for urging said wheel in said direction, a timing device, a timing wheel having a plurality of pins actuated by said timing device, and a pawl adapted to be actuated by said pins for stepping said ratchet wheel in the opposite direction, said switch means being controlled by said ratchet wheel, said switch means also being controlled by said timing wheel whereby the switch may be periodically opened.

3. In combination, a registering member rotatable in either direction and yieldingly urged in one direction, an escapement pawl controlling the movement of said member in said one direction, a timing device for causing periodic movement of said member in the opposite direction, said timing device running continuously, switch means controlled by said member and adapted to be actuated to open position when said member reaches a predetermined position in its rotation in said opposite direction, and means operable independently of said member for actuating said switch to open position.

4. In combination, a registering member rotatable in either direction, means for rotating said member in one direction, a timing device for causing periodic movement of the registering member in the opposite direction, said timing device running continuously, and switch'means controlled by said registering member and adapted to be actuated to open position when said member reaches a predetermined position in its rotation in said opposite direction, and means optionally operable independently of said member for actuating said switch to open position, said last means normally being actuated by the timing device whereby opening of said switch is automatically accomplished at predetermined intervals.

5. In combination, a ratchet wheel with an escapement pawl, resilient means for urging said ratchet wheel in one direction, a switch actuating member controlled by said ratchet wheel, a timing means, a switch for controlling an electric appliance, said timing means being adapted to step said ratchet Wheel in an opposite direction against the tension of said spring at intervals predetermined by said timing means, a lantern wheel continuously rotated by said timing means, pawl means for actuating said ratchet wheel against the tension of its spring, and camming means carried by said pawl and engaging shoulders carried by said lantern wheel, said lantern wheel having a multiplicity of apertures for receiving pins forming the shoulders for actuating said latter pawl and predetermining the time period of said controlling device.

6. In combination, a ratchet wheel rotatable in either direction, yielding means urging said Wheel in one direction, an escapement pawl controlling rotation of said wheel in said one direction, a second ratchet Wheel rotatable in the same direction as said first wheel under the influence of said yielding means, said second wheel having means cooperating with said rst wheel for rotating the latter step by step in the opposite ldirection, a continuously driven timing member,

means actuated by said member vfor periodically turning said second Wheel, and a normally closed electric switch opened by said rst wheel when the latter has been turned into predetermined position in opposition to said yielding means.

7. In combination, a ratchet wheel rotatable in either direction, yielding means urging said wheel in one direction, an escapement pawl controlling rotation of said Wheel in said one direction, a second wheel rotatable in the same direction as said first wheel under the influence of said yielding means, said second wheel having means cooperating with said rst wheel for rotating the latter step by step in the opposite direction, a continuously driven timing member, driving connections between said member and said second wheel, and a normally closed electric switch opened by said first wheel when the latter has been turned into predetermined position in opposition to said yielding means.

GEORGE H. NIEDERST. 

